Attilio Giordani was born in Milan on Feb. 3, 1913, into a simple and united family of profound religious convictions. After elementary school, he enrolled in a technical school, began working at age 16, and - by now an adult - was hired at Pirelli. His real school, however, was the parish oratory of St. Augustine run by the Salesians, thanks to whom he got to know Don Bosco and acquired his spirit: a brilliant animator and highly prepared catechist, he was always distinguished by his educational vivacity and the value of his bearing witness. Called to military service in 1934, during the war he was sent to the Greek-Albanian front and to France. In the meantime, he had become engaged to Noemi Davanzo, whom he had met in the oratory devoted to educational service, and to whom he was bound by a profound commonality of purpose. On May 6, 1944, they were married and from their union were born Piergiorgio, Maria Grazia, and Paola. Giordani was a very present husband and father, rich in great faith and serenity, in a deliberate austerity and evangelical poverty for the benefit of those most in need.
An adherent of Catholic Action, in 1957 he joined the Association of Salesian Cooperators. In 1962 an initial heart attack forced him into a long convalescence, but it did not curb his apostolic commitment and missionary drive. At the threshold of sixty, in fact, he decided to share his children's experience with his wife for a period of missionary volunteer work in Brazil with Operation Mato Grosso. Several times he had said, "Death must find us alive." On Dec. 18, 1972, in Campo Grande, Brazil, he was crushed by a new heart attack during a meeting. His body, transported to Italy, now rests in the Basilica of St. Augustine so dear to him. Pope Francis declared him Venerable on October 9, 2013.
Attilio is a layman who, like the "mustard seed" (Mt 13:32) of the Gospel, flourished as a leafy tree rich in fruit, on whose branches so many have found welcome and refreshment, and in whose existence many can still discover a friend. Indeed, Attilio's journey of faith gradually grew, reaching those heights of holiness that he pointed to and to which he walked in the company of so many. His life as a committed Christian took such a decisive and personal direction that he discovered, "the joy of serving Christ," of "not being just more or less good," of "going against the grain."
On the 50th anniversary of the death of Venerable Attilio Giordani, on Sunday, Dec. 18, his parish of Sant'Agostino in Milan (Via Copernico) remembers him at 10 a.m. at Mass presided over by Fr. Giuliano Giacomazzi, superior of the Italy-Lombardy-Emilia Province, and at 6:30 p.m. at Mass presided over by the archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini. After the Mass celebrated by the archbishop, an exhibition will be opened in the parish. Celebrations to commemorate Venerable Attilio Giordani are also planned in Brazil in Poxoréu and Campogrande.
